Minute by Minute

Book excerpt: Being a scoutmaster can be one of the most rewarding things a person can do. But it can be a lot of work! Ask any scoutmaster what’s the hardest part of the job, and one of the most common responses you will get would be coming up with the scoutmaster’s minutes. Week after week, over fifty times a year, the scoutmaster must come up with an inspiring, educational, and entertainment message for the Scouts. Let’s face it. Not every scoutmaster is the most gifted public speaker. Research shows that the number one fear of people is speaking in public. Just because a scoutmaster loves to hike, camp, teach, lead, and motivate, doesn’t mean that they are comfortable speaking in front of a group. And how do you come up with inspiring stories, instructional words of wisdom and motivational messages, week after week? Long-time Scout leader, Larry Carpenter, has written a book that can be a lifesaver for any scoutmaster. This collection of 100 of the best scoutmaster’s minutes offers brief messages that are themed to topics, including the Scout Oath, Law, Motto and Slogan. Additional minutes cover other topics, such as persistence, honesty, leadership, and other positive character traits. This book makes a perfect gift for your scoutmaster. Or, if you are a scoutmaster who is on the spot once a week, make it a gift to yourself!